Berks & Bucks County Cup, Rd 1

(11-a-side)

Caversham AFC unfortunately found out what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a bounce back from Reading Girls Jets first defeat last week. Right from the start Jets looked like a different team from the week previous and showed just what they can do when they put their minds to it on a proper pitch.

Reading Jets still took an age to get the first goal, even though they dominated the first half, Caversham AFC managed to keep them out until the 33rd minute and then conceded two goals in two minutes. The first came when Megan Herbert was first to react when the ball broke loose from the keeper and slotted home from close range for a deserved lead making it 1 - 0. Sarah Thompson hit the second on the stroke of half time when she picked up a ball played in from Jade Hearmon and hit the ball goal wards but it took a wicked deflection before ending up in the back of the net, making it 2 - 0

The second started and the heavens opened. Driving rain and strong winds did not phase Reading Jets and they continued to spend most of the game in the Caversham half. A few positional changes made at half time and the Reading Girls responded brilliantly with some excellent football.

Anna Rumbol hit the killer goal with only three minutes on the clock with a nice side foot, after following up on a really good cross from Sophie Farrell. After that it really was one way traffic as Reading Girls Jets piled up the pressure. Sarah Thompson bagged another goal on six minutes, to make it 4 and then Megan Herbert made it 5 with a delightful finish in to the bottom corner giving the Caversham keeper no chance, just two minutes later. Sarah Thompson bagged herself a nice hatrick with only 12 minutes played to make it 6. Miranda Lane then made up for last week as she found herself in exactly the same position when the ball came back off the post to her, just a yard off the line. This time she ran the ball over the line to make it 7 and complete the scoring. After that with no further goals, the game seemed to fly past and before we knew it the ref was blowing for full time.

Really well done to a great performance from the Jets back line of Vicky Burr, Zara Harper, Hannah John and Sophie Gibbons. Alice Cartwright sealed up the midfield and Jade Hearmon looked sharper this week. April Charlton did a great job, coming off the bench with Miranda Lane and giving Caversham problems. Megan and Anna looked like they really wanted it this week. Sarah Thompson and Sophie Farrell gave real width and good delivery and Tara Magee did a great job on the overlap.
Well done girls a really great improvement from last week and I honestly think losing a game has brought the best out of you.

CC